19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
reviews by Nick Donnelly, Cendrine Huemer, July 13, 2004
This review is from: WG: Dragonflies: Wild Guide (Wild Guide Series) (Paperback)
Nick Donnelly (Argia):
This slender paperback is one of the most engaging field guides that I have encountered. The major appeal in this book does not reside in the species descriptions, but in the introductory material, which is slightly more than half of the entire book. Beginning with life history (thoroughly treated and brilliantly illustrated with colored drawings), she continues on with flight, territoriality, mating, thermal regulation, migration, and a host of other topics that rarely are included in a book of this scope. She even includes a discussion of construction of a dragonfly pond for your backyard. This book will be a very suitable introdution for almost anybody from high school age on, and veteran students will learn new things from her treatment.
The remainder of the book is devoted to the identification of 27 Eastern odonates; 4 damselfly and 23 dragonfly species. One can quibble over the selection of species (no Argia, a relatively less common Lestes), but the accounts are thorough and the accompanying illustrations are as accurate as they are attractive. The author's aim is to facilitate identification of the more common species encountered in the US, and she accomplishes this impressively. Each species has a page or two, an attractive colored picture, and discussion of habitat and behavior.
She finishes with a listing of useful books, contacts, organizations, web sites and field equipment. Although she mentions observing nymphs in an aquarium, she does not develop the concept of rearing dragonflies, which is fairly easy and immensely rewarding. This is a thoroughly impressive guide, and is a wonderful supplement to guides devoted almost exclusively to identification, such as Sid Dunkle's "Dragonflies through Binoculars" and Blair Nikulas et al's "Beginner's Guide."
Cendrine Huemer (Nature Canada):
Dragonflies are in and entirely deserving of the interest. With their bright colours, seasonality, and predictable habitat requirements, watching dragonflies is but a quick hop from the world of birds. They have been on earth for more than 200 million years, which makes them older than dinosaurs. Tell that to a precocious dinosaur-lover and you may have a keen partner for a new hobby. There are 6,500 dragonfly species worldwide (including damselflies), and 425 in North America-a nice challenge and a reasonable project for a naturalist looking for new horizons.
Cynthia Berger's latest book, a worthy addition to any library, satisfies this new naturalist rage. Compact and well designed with excellent illustrations, it is less daunting than the more serious and scientific Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field and Finding Guide to Dragonflies of North America by Sidney W. Dunkle, which is twice the price. Wild Guide: Dragonflies is a book you might read cover to cover and bring to the cottage as part of the regular items you pack. Easy to read, it is comprehensive and includes anatomy, metamorphosis, behaviour, identification, and tips on dragonfly watching and how to attract them to your garden.
To make the nomenclature easier, dragonfly systematists have recently agreed on a system of common names. Word lovers will like the imagery they evoke-seaside dragonlet, pondhawks, firetails, amberwings, sprites, shadowdragons-which makes them sound like they should be on fantasy trading cards.
The section on identification is really a mini field guide, which covers habitat type-tremendously useful towards identification. The life-sized silhouettes also come in very handy. Unfortunately, range maps are not included. For them you must rely on Dunkle's tome.
Wild Guide: Dragonflies will take the mystery out of this ancient insect order. All you need, aside from the book, is a small pond, a notebook, and close-focusing binoculars.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More than a field guide, August 19, 2005
This review is from: WG: Dragonflies: Wild Guide (Wild Guide Series) (Paperback)
You get a good idea of what this book is about by checking the table of contents. In a short book of about 120 pages, only the second half is devoted to the species accounts you would expect to find. The first half describes the life cycle and behavior of these beautiful creatures in greater depth than, for example, Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies (an excellent book as well.)
The author, like myself, began as a birder and found dragonflies had many of the characteristics that we love about birds: they are beautiful, there are enough of them to make identification challenging, but not overwhelming, and they can fly, making it possible to find them in unexpected places. Many serious birders are discovering a second source of pleasure in the field. If you fall into this category, you should find this book helpful.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Learning Tool, September 3, 2005
This review is from: WG: Dragonflies: Wild Guide (Wild Guide Series) (Paperback)
Ms Berger's book is not the most extensive guide for identification, but it is absolutely wonderful for learning about dragonflies. It's beautiful drawnings provide an understanding of the species and show all the major families, background, habitat, and behavior. It provides a great way to to get started and understand these dazzling little critters. There should be more books in this style.
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